The Italian Visa is an endorsement on the passport that allows foreigners to enter the Country. In this case, the Visa is required for non-EU nationals willing to enter Italy for multiple reasons.
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The Italian Visa System is regulated by the Acquis Schengen, a convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of June 14, 1985. The Agreement was signed by the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic. The goal was to approve the gradual abolition of their common borders. The System is further regulated by the Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Testo Unico Sull’Immigrazione), a consolidated act of provisions concerning regulations on immigration and rules about the conditions of aliens in Italy.
The entry to Italy is generally allowed through 2 main categories of Visa: a short-term and a long-term stay visa.
1. Short-term stay (Uniform Schengen Visa – USV)
The short-term stay visa is valid for stays of up to 90 days and includes the following categories:
- Business: released to foreign nationals coming to Italy to perform business activities (meetings, negotiations, training sessions);
- Tourist: released to foreign nationals coming to Italy for purposes of tourism and leisure;
- Study: released to foreign nationals who intend to study in Italy among recognised educational establishments
- Adoption: released to foreign nationals who have been adopted in Italy;
- Medical Care: released to foreign nationals coming to Italy to undertake medical treatments in a public or private clinic;
- Mission: released to foreign nationals coming to Italy for reasons connected to their public role;
- Religious Reasons: released to foreign nationals coming to Italy for participating to pilgrimages or for worship reasons;
- Sports Competitions: released to foreign nationals coming to Italy to participate in sport competitions.
2. Long-term stay (National Visa)
Conversely, a long-term stay Visa is valid for stays of more than 90 days, including the following categories:
- Work: released to foreign nationals coming to Italy on the basis of a work contract with an Italian company;
- Intra Company transferee: for intra company transfers of highly specialized workers/executives or trainees;
- Blue Card: for the local hiring of highly specialized workers or executives;
- Family Reasons: released to foreign nationals who require to join a close relative living in Italy on the long term. This type further includes the following:
- Visa for family members, accompanying a foreigner who has already obtained a “D” visa to Italy;
- Visa for family members of a foreigner already living in Italy.
- Elective Residence: released to foreign nationals who intend to move their residence to Italy;
- Investor visa: released to foreign nationals who intend to invest in a business in Italy;
- Italy Startup Visa: addressed to foreign entrepreneurs who wish to open an innovative startup in Italy, strongly tied with innovation and technology;
- Internship Visa: released to foreign nationals moving to Italy on the basis of a training project in a company;
- Mission: released to foreign nationals coming to Italy for reasons connected to their public role;
- Religious Reasons: released to foreign nationals coming to Italy for participating to pilgrimages or for worship reasons;
- Re-Entry Visa: released to foreign nationals who were been holding a residence permit for Italy, but lost it for whatsoever reasons, and require to return to the country.
3. Do I need an Italian Visa?
All EU/EEA nationals only need to present an identification document to enter Italy, based on the common travel area of the Schengen Zone. On the other hand, if you are a non-EU/EEA traveller willing to visit Italy, you will need to apply for an Italian Visa.
However, depending on the Country of origin, some citizens do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days. For the updated list of countries, you can also refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs webpage: Visa for Italy